A political scandal has erupted in Latvia: Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs stated at a press conference on 22 September that the country cannot support the plan proposed by Ireland to lift sanctions against the well-known Russian oligarchs Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman. This is a pressing issue, as it could jeopardise the extension of sanctions against a whole range of individuals linked to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
Kulbergs noted that extending the sanctions for 36 months is the right move, but not at the cost of removing these two businessmen from the list. He emphasised that Latvia has no intention of making such concessions and intends to continue negotiations with Brussels and Paris to find a solution that is in the country’s best interests. To discuss the situation, the Prime Minister convened an emergency meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers.
Latvia’s position is supported by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who expressed his gratitude to the Latvian leadership and other EU partners for their efforts to counter Russian aggression. Zelenskyy insists that the sanctions must remain in place until Moscow shows a willingness to engage in serious peace talks.
Meanwhile, European diplomats have reported that an agreement has been reached to extend sanctions against some 3,000 individuals and organisations linked to the war against Ukraine, including Russian President Vladimir Putin. Under the new terms, the sanctions are set to be extended for three years at once, rather than the usual six months. However, as a result of a compromise, Usmanov and Friedman will be removed from the sanctions list, a move that has sparked a wave of debate and dissent among some European countries, including Latvia.